Self-adjusting hoisting means for sunken ships



Aug. M 45. c. M ZOLL f LF-ADJUSTING EOSTING MEANS FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Aug. 14, 1945. 3A M. ZOLL 2,382,840

SELF*ADJUSTING HOISTING MEANS FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Filed Aug. 1l, 194:4l 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 21,7 /lf Z OZ Z,

Aug. i4, 1945. C. M. zoLL ADJUSTING HOISTING MEANS FOR SUNKEN SHPS SELF- Filed Aug. ll, 1944 4 SheeS--Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 SELF-ADJUSTING HOISTING MEANS FOR e SUNKEN SHIPS Carl M. Zoll, Metairie, La., assignor to Marine Salvage & Equipment, Inc., Baltimore, Md.

Application August 11, 1944, Serial No. 549,027

14 Claims.

This invention relates to the salvaging of ships and has special reference to a hoisting means for sunken ships.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel means for hoisting sunken ships wherein the means is capable of being attached to the ships hull without the necessity of the employment of divers to effect such attachment.

In the usual method of raising sunken ships by hoisting means on the surface of the' body 'of water in which the ships have sunk it is customary to place slings around the hull of the ship and exert hoisting effort on said slings.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for application to a sunken ship wherein the use of slings surround.- ing the ship iwill be eliminated.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel salvaging apparatus so constructed and arranged that it will automatically engage a ships hull at any point in the length of the ship, the 4apparatus being so arranged as to compensate for the shape of the hull at the particular location to which it is applied.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this class wherein the device may be applied to the ships hull regardless of whether the ship is settled on an even keel or has listed to one side or the other.

A fth important object of the invention is to provide a hoisting device for sunken ships wherein the apparatus will be applied simultaneously to both sides of the ship and at a series of points thereon. I

A sixth important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the lift at the Various points in the length of the hull to which the apparatus is applied will be equalized.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of part-s hereinafter fully described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings and specically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views and- Fig. l is an end elevation partly in section showing the complete apparatus as applied to a ships hull, the latter being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a detailed section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus with the upper hoisting blocks omitted.

Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation ofthe apparatus. f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed section .on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.l

Fig. 6 is an enlargedv detailed end View of a portion of the latching means employed herein.

Fig. 7 is a viewffrom the right Isideoi the detail shown in Fig. 6. ,l Y

Fig. 8 is a detailed section sho-wing the `latch portion ofthe latching means disclosed in Figs. 6 and '7.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line Sig-.9 ofv Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line IU--ID of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment o f the invention as here disclosed therel is provided at each side ofvthe apparatusa beam I0 which is built up and consists of a taperedtop plate II, a correspondingly tapered bottom platel I2 andv a series of parallel webs I3 extending between said top land bottomv plates. The top and bottom plates have straight outer edges I4 and inclined inner edges I5 which are so arranged that the beam is widest in plan at its center and' tapers ,toward each end. At the inner centralv portion ,of each beam a block I6l is iitted between theupper and lower plates and projectingtoward the center from thisinner por-y tionis a series of spaced tongues Il. Extending between the centers of these beams is a telescopic beam consisting'of an outer member I8 of rectangular crosssection and an inner member I9 of similar rectangular cross section. These members fit slidingly together. Fitted in the outer' member is a block 20 from'which tonguesY 2| project to lie between the tongues I'I. Similarly there is-tted within the inner member a'block 22 fromwhich tongues 23 project between the tongues I'I at that end'of the transverse telescopic beam formed by the members I8 and I9. The various' tongues have registering openings and each of the taperingv beams is connected to the transverse telescopic beam by a pivot pin 24. By means of this construction it will be seen that the tapering beams at each side of the apparatus are capable of swinging movement in a horizontal plane and this is for purposes that will presently be described. Through the webs I3 at the outer ends thereof projects, for each beam, a shaft 25 and mounted on this shaft for independent rocking movement is a series of inverted L-shaped gripping levers 26 each of which has an upright' portion 21 through which the shaft 25 passes 'and each of which has a portion 28 extending toward the longitudinal center line of the apparatus. At the lower end of each leg 21 there is provided a heavy spur 29 of sucient size and'proportions to enable it to penetrate the side 38 of a ships hull 3|. In order to vary the length of the transverse telescopic beam to suit different beam dimensions of ships there is provided within the inner member I9 a cylinder 32 which is supported by a plate 33 carried by stop plates 34 which are anchored, as seen in Fig. 9, at their top and bottom edges in the top and bottom walls of the outer telescopic member I8. Also in the cylinder works a plunger 35 supported by a plate 36 which is in turn supported by stop plates 3`| anchored at their top and bottom edges in the inner telescopic member I9 as shown in Fig. 10. A supply pipe 38 leads into the cylinder 32 and is provided with a valve 39 capable of being operated from above the water line by cable 4U. 'I'he A-pipe 38 is supplied with fluid under pressure from any suitable source and when the cylinder 32 receives this pressure the outer member I8, as shown in Fig. 1, will be forced to the right side, the inner member AI9 will be forced to the left and thus the effective lengthof the telescopic transverse beam will be lessened.

Extending over the inner ends of each set vof levers 26 is a beam 4| preferably .of inverted channel shape and in the channel of this beam is mounted a series of pulleys 42, each f which normally have its axis in a vertical plane .centrally spaced between adjacent levers 26. Straddling the inner end of each lever 26 is a yoke 43 to which the lever end is pivoted by pin 44. This yoke extends upwardly and terminates in a vforked portion 45 carrying a pulley 46. An equalizing cable 41 has its ends anchored as at 48 to the beam 4| and extends alternately` down and around a pulley 46 and up and around a pulley 42 from one end of the beam 4| .to the other.

I'he beam 4| .is provided centrally .of its upper portion with a series -of rope pulleys 49 over which are trained a hoisting cable 50 Vof any suitable hoisting apparatus not deemed necessary here to be shown.

Extending Vupwardly from each tapered beamat one end thereof is a plate A| and ,at the other end of each beam isa plate 52. On the end plates 5| and 52 are journalled shafts 53 and these shafts project through the plate 5| to carry meshing gears 54. Also the plate 5| carries alstub shaft 55 whereon is mounted a gear .56 meshingV with one of the gears 54 but free from the other. A two armed actuating lever 51 is held on the shaft 55 by a nut 58 and is secured to lthe-gear56 by pins 59. A cable 6|) extends up from each end of the actuating lever 5l for Aoperation from above the water line. Extending downwardly from the under side of each of the lever portions 28 is a latch plate 6| which -passes'down below the shafts 53, being notched .on 4each side at 62. Opposite each plate 6| the shaftsv 53 are notched for about one-half of their width. Now by reference to Fig. 8 it will be noted that when the shafts are in the position with their notches as indicated in full lines the :solid portion of the shafts will engage in the notches 62 of the' member 6| and thus lock this member so that the lever 26 cannot rock on the shaft 25. However if, the lever 51 be pulled upwardly at sone end the shafts 53 will rock to the position shown in ydotted lines and thus the solid portions of Vthe shafts 53 will be freed from engagement with the notches 62 and consequently the lever 26 4can rock on the shaft 25. Obviously then when the lever 5'! is actuated in one direction all of the levers 26 will be freed, and when actuated in the other directions all of the levers will be locked.

In the operation of the device the tapered beams at each side are arranged in such spread relation that the arm portions 2l may slip down over the sides of the ship. At this time the levers are all locked from tilting. Upon induction of fluid under pressure to the cylinder 32 a transverse telescopic beam will cause the levers 26 to be drawn toward each other so that the spurs 29 will grip in the sides 30 of the ship. Now it may be that some of these spurs may not engage as deeply as others even though pivoting of the beams carrying the levers permits the device to conform to the taper of the ships hull. It may also happen that some of the spurs 29 may not even engage the hull, however after the rst gripping is effected the cables 60 are drawn upon to `release the individual levers 26. Then, when the cable 50 is brought under tension the equalizing arrangement due to the pulleys 42 and 46 and the cable 41 will operate to put such torques on the several levers 26 that all of them will properly engage the ships hull.

It is to be noted that because of the employment of separate beams 4| at each side Aof vthe apparatus one side may be lowered or raised to a greater extent than the other so that the transverse telescopic beam may be given any proper angular relation to cause it to lie substantially parallel to and thwart ships of the upper part of a ships hull. If it is desired to release the apparatus from the ships hull while under water it is merely necessary to release the pressure obtained through thepipe 38 whereupon the pres sure due to the depth of the water will urge the cylinder 32 and plunger 35 to telescope together, this pressure being effected on the members 33 and 36. This of course will cause the telescopic transverse beam to increase in effective length and thereby force the levers 26 to disengage from the ships hull.

What is claimed is:

l. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams extending longitudinally of the ships sides, 'a plurality of spaced arms depending from each of said beams and provided with hull piercing spurs on their confronting sides, and telescopicl means connecting said pair of beams. i

2. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams extending longitudinally of the ships' sides, 'a plurality of spaced arm depending from each of said beams and provided with hull piercing spurs on their confronting sides, a telescopic beam extending transversely between said pair of beams, and vertical pivots connecting the ends of the telescopic beam to said pair of beams.

3. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams extending longitudinally of the ships sides, a plurality of spaced arms depending from each of said beams and provided with hull piercing spurs on their confronting sides, a telescopic beam extending transversely between said pair `of beams, and pressure actuated means controlling the length of said telescopic means.

4. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced lever journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, and telescopic meansconnecting said pair of beams, saidvtelescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams.

5. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, and pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic means.

6. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft andhaving arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, said telescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams, and pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic beam.

7. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, and lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever.

8. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, said telescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams, and lifting means connected to the levers of each beam exerting equal torque on each lever.

9. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic means, and lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever.

10. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journallecl on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, said telescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams, pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic beam, and lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever.

11. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever, and vreleasable latching devices holding said levers against pivoted movement on said shafts.

12. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, said telescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams, lifting means connected to the levers of each bearnand exerting equal torque on each lever, and releasable latching devices holding said levers against pivoted movement on said shafts.

13. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic means, lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever, and releasable latching devices holding said levers against pivoted movement on said shafts.

14. In a ship salvaging device, a pair of beams, a shaft extending longitudinally of each beam, spaced levers journalled on each shaft and having arms depending from said shafts, hull piercing spurs at the lower ends of said levers, telescopic means connecting said pair of beams, said telescopic means including a telescopic beam having its ends connected by vertical pivots to said pair of beams, pressure actuated means controlling the length of the telescopic' beam, lifting means connected to the levers of each beam and exerting equal torque on each lever, and releasable latchingdevices holding said levers against pivoted movement on said shafts.

CARL M. ZOLL. 

